NIC Career Services director named 2013 Idaho Counselor of the Year

Gail Laferriere, North Idaho College Career Services assistant director, has been named the 2013 Counselor of the Year by the Idaho Counseling Association.

Laferriere was presented the award at the Coeur d’Alene Resort Saturday, Jan. 26 at the ICA Annual Conference.

“This is such an honor,” Laferriere said. “I never dreamed I would be named Counselor of the Year for the state.”

The ICA award is given to one person each year who exemplifies the model of an ideal counselor with the recipient demonstrating excellent rapport with clients, counselors, co-workers.

Laferriere has worked at NIC for 19 years. When she first moved to Idaho in 1993 NIC had no Career Center, so she began the process of creating and developing the career development program and center in 1994. That program has been lauded as the best in the state and region. In addition to managing the Career Services program and providing career counseling on a daily basis, Laferriere has created classes, taught, conducted workshops, coordinated events, and consulted with business and education institutions. She helps facilitate and presents at a monthly mental health seminar for colleagues in North Idaho and serves on a variety of boards. She also served on the National Career Information System Adult Career and Educational Planner design group that created the “My Career Plan” feature.

Laferriere received her master’s degree in counseling from the University of Idaho in 2000, is a nationally certified and licensed counselor, and is the only Master Career Counselor in Idaho, which is an honor granted by the National Career Development Association.